Dausa

Dausa is a city and administrative headquarters of Dausa district in the state of Rajasthan, India. It is 55 km from Jaipur, 240 km from Delhi and located on Jaipur-Agra National Highway (NH-21).

Etymology
The name Dausa (Hindi: दौसा) is derived from a Sanskrit word Dhau-Sa which means "Beautiful like Heaven".

History
Before 1947, Dausa was part of princely state of Jaipur ruled by Suryavanshi Kachwaha Rajputs. Dausa is situated in a region widely known as Dundhar. The Chauhans also ruled this land in 10th Century AD. Dausa became the first capital of the then Dundhar Region. The Raja Sodh Dev ruled this region during 996 AD to 1006 AD. Later, Raja Dulha Rai who was son of Raja Sodh Dev ruled this region for 30 years from 1006 AD to 1036 AD.

Dausa has given prominent freedom fighters to the nation. Tikaram Paliwal and Ram Karan Joshi were amongst the freedom fighters who gave their valuable contribution for the fight for independence and in formation of the state of Rajasthan. Tikaram Paliwal was elected the Chief Minister of Rajasthan in 1952. Also, Ram Karan Joshi was the first Panchayati Raj Minister of Rajasthan who submitted the first Panchayati Raj Bill in the Vidhansabha in 1952.

The poet Sunderdas was born on Chaitra Shukla Navami in Vikram Samvat 1653 in Dausa. He was a renowned Nirgun Panthi Sant and wrote 42 Grantha, out of which Gyan Sundaram & Sunder Vilas are famous.

Geography
Dausa is located at 26.88°N, 76.33°W. It has an average elevation of 333 metres (1072 feet). It is located in Dausa district, one of the 5 Districts of Jaipur division (Alwar, Dausa, Jaipur, Jhunjhunun, Sikar).

Demographics
Indian census, Dausa town had total population of 85,960. Males constitute 45,369 of the population and females 40,591. Dausa has an average literacy rate of 69.17%, lower than the national average of 74.04%: male literacy is 84.54% and, female literacy is 52.33%. In Dausa, 11,042 of the population is under 6 years of age.

Religion
The religious groups represented in Dausa as of 2011 include Hindus (84.99%), Muslims (14.11%), Jains (0.66%), Christians (0.16%) and Sikhs (0.15%).

Stone carving
Sikandra is situated at 25 km from Dausa on NH-21 towards Agra. This place has made its mark in the domestic as well as international market for its sandstone carvings.

Basant Panchmi Mela
Basant Panchami Mela is organized every February in Baradari Mela Maidan with the worship of idols of Raghunathji, Narsinghji, and the god Surya. The festival is celebrated for a month, with a large local market for villagers to procure essential requirements for the entire year. Besides this, it has all arrangements for rural entertainment. Therefore, it has very much attention and importance for rural population scattered in the district.

Tourism
There are many places in and near Dausa to visit such as:
 * Abhaneri: It is known for its post-Gupta or early medieval monuments. It is situated at about 33 km from Dausa towards Bandikui. The Chand Baori (Step Well) and Harshat Mata Temple are the important places to visit.
 * Bhandarej: Bhandarej is known for the walls, sculptures, decorative latticework, and terracotta utensils found in the excavation. Bhandarej also has 18th-century step-well called Bhandrej Baori.
 * Khawaraoji: Khawaraoji was the residence of the then ruler Raoji and Jaiman purohits. It is situated at about 25 km from Dausa.
 * Jhajhirampura : Jhajhirampura is known for the natural water tank and temples of Rudra (Shiv), Balaji (Hanuman), Bhairav nath ji, Devnarayan chouhan ji temple and other religious god and goddess.

Temples and religious spots

 * Mehandipur Balaji Temple: The temple of Bajrang Bali (Hanuman) god is known for treatment of mentally disturbed people.
 * Shri Paplaj Mata Mandir: The Temple of Paplaj Mata Ji is situated in the sub-district Lalsot.
 * Shri Binouri Balaji Mandir: The Temple of Binouri Balaji Ji is situated in the sub-district Lalsot.

By road
Dausa is located on NH 21. It is 55 km from Jaipur and 180 km from Agra on NH-21 and 240 km from Delhi on Delhi–Mumbai Expressway and also well connected to other surrounding cities viz. Alwar, Karauli, Sawai Madhopur and Bharatpur by road. Further, NH-148 connects it to Lalsot. RSRTC operates bus service to major cities in Rajasthan, New Delhi and Uttar Pradesh.

By rail
The city is well connected by rail. It is on Delhi-Jaipur line. Dausa railway station is a very important railway station of North-Western Railway Zone under Jaipur division. A new railway line is under construction which will connect Dausa to Gangapur City, after this the Dausa railway station will become a railway junction.

By air
The nearest airport to the city is Jaipur International Airport, which is at a distance of 60 km from the city. The second nearest airport is Agra Airport.